Alf-Helge Aarskog dies after short illness.
Former Mowi chief executive Alf-Helge Aarskog has died, according to a report from iLaks. He passed away on Friday following a short period of illness, the publication said.
Aarskog stepped down from Mowi in 2019 after almost a decade at the helm, making him the company’s longest-serving CEO since founder Thor Mowinckel. Born in 1967 and raised on a farm in Rovde, Sunnmøre, he studied at NMBU and entered the aquaculture sector early in his career.
Before rejoining Mowi as chief executive, Aarskog held roles at Felleskjøpet, Mowi, Fjord Seafood and Lerøy. He was recruited back to Mowi from the top job at Lerøy by then Mowi chair Ole-Eirik Lerøy, himself a former Lerøy executive, iLaks reported.
During Aarskog’s tenure, Mowi pursued greater integration across processing, feed and wellboat operations. A significant step was the acquisition of major customer Morpol. The company also attempted, without success, to acquire rivals Cermaq and Grieg Seafood.
Reflecting on his departure in an interview for the 2024 book Goldfinger – The History of Mowi, Aarskog said he believed stepping down when he did was the right decision. “I actually think no one — neither CEOs nor chairmen nor anyone — should stay in positions for more than seven years. Seven or eight years. I don’t see anyone who is sharp after eight years,” he said.
He also noted how much he had learned after leaving Mowi. “The supplier industry… what lies around this, you never really see as CEO in Mowi,” he said. “You don’t understand how important ozone is for what is happening in land-based construction. You don’t understand everything involved in deliveries to closed systems at sea or to offshore. There are many small and medium-sized players who have contributed to making the aquaculture industry what it is.”
In recent years, Aarskog held several board positions and spent the past three years working as a project manager at Eide Fjordbruk, iLaks reported.
